Monocle is one of those publications that carries a sense of cosmopolitan prestige. The kind that says something about a person if you see it on their coffee table. So you can imagine the exact crowd their physical stores draw. Monocle has a few shops in fashionable cities around the world. London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, to name a few. Some with cafes as well. Each shop feels like walking into the pages of the magazine, a curated selection of objects, publications and apparel that appeal to the well-traveled Monocle community with a discerning design eye, and complement the magazine. The cafes skew Japanese. Japandi minimalist design, magazines lining the walls, tempting you to flip through the pages as you sip on a coffee. The menu also skews Japanese. In addition to the coffee and tea (and wine), they serve sandos, curry and soba.

In a time where magazines are struggling and brick and mortar shops are closing left and right, Monocle seems to be thriving in spite of the trend. A brand that transcends its issues to be a beacon for worldly readers. Stores that transcend trendy experiential retail to be a mainstay in the city’s commercial landscape, a space to return to again and again, and feel connected to a global community.